by Arthur Conan Doyle

no very unusual thing Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, to look in upon us of an evening, visits were welcome to Sherlock Holmes, for they enabled him in touch with all that was going on police head-quarters In return news which Lestrade would bring, Holmes was always ready to listen with attention details of any case the detective was engaged, and was able occasionally, without any active interference, some hint or suggestion drawn own vast knowledge and experience

particular evening Lestrade had spoken weather newspapers Then he had fallen silent, puffing thoughtfully at his cigar Holmes looked keenly at him

"Anything remarkable on hand ? " he asked

"Oh, no, Mr Holmes, nothing very particular "

"Then tell me "

Lestrade laughed

"Well, Mr Holmes, no use denying something on my mind And yet such an absurd business that I hesitated to bother you other hand, although trivial, undoubtedly queer, and that taste for all common But in my opinion it comes more in Dr Watson's line than ours "

"Disease ? " said I

"Madness, anyhow And queer madness too ! You wouldn't think anyone living of day who had such hatred of Napoleon the First that break any image of him that he "

Holmes sank back chair

"That's no business ," said he

"Exactly That's what But then, man commits burglary to break images which his own, that brings it away doctor and on policeman "

Holmes sat up again

"Burglary ! more interesting Let me hear the details "

Lestrade took out his official note-book and refreshed his memory from its pages

"The first case reported was four ," said he " shop of Morse Hudson, who has place sale of pictures and statues Kennington Road The assistant had left the front shop for an instant when he heard crash, and hurrying in plaster bust of Napoleon, which stood with works of art counter, lying shivered into fragments He rushed out road, but, although several passers-by declared had noticed man run shop, neither see anyone nor could he find any means of identifying the rascal It seemed one senseless acts of Hooliganism which occur , and reported constable beat as such The plaster cast was not worth more than few shillings, whole affair appeared too childish for any particular investigation

"The second case, however, was more serious and also more singular It occurred only last night

"In Kennington Road, and within few hundred yards of Morse Hudson's shop, there lives well-known medical practitioner, named Dr Barnicot, who has largest practices south side Thames His residence and principal consulting-room is at Kennington Road, but he has branch surgery and dispensary at Lower Brixton Road, two miles away This Dr Barnicot is an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon, house is full of books, pictures, and relics French Emperor Some little time ago he purchased from Morse Hudson two duplicate plaster casts famous head of Napoleon French sculptor, Devine he placed hall house at Kennington Road, other mantelpiece surgery at Lower Brixton Well, when Dr Barnicot came down astonished that his house burgled during the night, but that nothing taken save the plaster head hall It carried out and dashed savagely against the garden wall, under which its splintered fragments were discovered "

Holmes rubbed his hands

" certainly very novel," said he

" it would please you But got end yet Dr Barnicot was due at his surgery at twelve o'clock, and imagine his amazement when, on arriving there, window opened night, and broken pieces second bust were strewn all over the room It smashed to atoms where it stood In neither case were there any signs which could clue criminal or lunatic who had done the mischief Now, Mr Holmes, got the facts "

" singular, not grotesque," said Holmes "May I ask whether the two busts smashed in Dr Barnicot's rooms were the exact duplicates one destroyed in Morse Hudson's shop ? "

"They were taken same mould "

"Such fact must tell against the theory man who breaks them is influenced by any general hatred of Napoleon Considering hundreds of statues great Emperor must exist in London, to suppose such coincidence promiscuous iconoclast should chance upon three specimens same bust "

"Well, ," said Lestrade " other hand, this Morse Hudson purveyor of busts part of London, and these three were the only ones which shop for years So, although, say, many hundreds of statues in London, very probable three were the only ones district Therefore, local fanatic would begin What , Dr Watson ? "

" no limits possibilities of monomania," I answered " the condition which the modern French psychologists have called the `idee fixe,' trifling in character, and accompanied by complete sanity in way man who had read deeply about Napoleon, or who had possibly received some hereditary family injury great war, might conceivably form such an `idee fixe' and under its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage "

"That won't do, my dear Watson," said Holmes, shaking his head; "for no amount of `idee fixe' would enable your interesting monomaniac out where these busts were situated "

"Well, how explain it ? "

"I don't attempt only observe certain method gentleman's eccentric proceedings For example, in Dr Barnicot's hall, where sound might arouse the family, the bust was taken outside before being broken, whereas surgery, where less danger of an alarm, smashed where it stood The affair seems absurdly trifling, and yet I dare call nothing trivial when I reflect that some most classic cases the least promising commencement remember, Watson, how the dreadful business Abernetty family was first brought to my notice depth which the parsley had sunk butter upon hot day 't afford, therefore, to smile at your three broken busts, Lestrade, and obliged let me hear of any fresh developments of so singular chain of events "

The development my friend had asked came in quicker and an infinitely more tragic form than he imagined still dressing in my bedroom next morning when tap door and Holmes entered, telegram hand He read it aloud:--

"Come instantly, 131, Pitt Street, Kensington -- Lestrade "

" it, then ? " I asked

"Don't know -- anything But I suspect sequel story statues case our friend, the image-breaker, has begun operations in another quarter of London There's coffee table, Watson, and cab door "

In half an hour we had reached Pitt Street, quiet little backwater just beside briskest currents of London life No 131 was one of row, all flat-chested, respectable, and most unromantic dwellings drove up the railings in front house lined by curious crowd Holmes whistled

"By George ! it's attempted murder least Nothing less will hold the London message-boy There's deed of violence indicated fellow's round shoulders and outstretched neck What's this, Watson ? The top steps swilled down other ones dry Footsteps enough, anyhow ! Well, well, there's Lestrade front window, and soon know all "